Member states urged to 'do more' on EU-wide 112 number

Member states have been urged to do more to publicise the EU-wide 112 emergency telephone number.

Speaking in Brussels, UK Liberal MEP Diana Wallis said some countries were doing their best to promote the number but “much more” needs to be done.

“This is an invaluable service which can help save lives but public awareness of the number is relatively low,” said Wallis, a parliament vice president.

EU information society and media commissioner Viviane Reding also praised the 112 system, saying, “Certain member states are not doing enough to make citizens aware of the service.”

Both were keynote speakers at an awards ceremony which honoured groups  and individuals which have made an effort to raise awareness of 112, the harmonised single number for emergency assistance across the EU.

One award went to three-year-old Polish youngster Krystian Drozdek, who dialled the number when his mother collapsed at home from a diabetic fit.

She had told her son to memorise the number in case of such an eventuality.

Another award went to the London-based Metropolitan police. Under their system, the Met has a 170-strong team of interpreters on hand for anyone calling 112 in London.

The awards were organised by the Brussels-based European Emergency Number Association.

Its president and founder, Olivier Paul-Morandini, said, “All of these people and organisations have demonstrated the enormous value that 112 brings to all of us.”

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